cat shepard

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R & D. It is a lovely day in my neighborhood! We had quite a rainy evening, yesterday. But not a heavy downpour. Even Bindi didn’t mind going out in it. Eva, thank you for taking care of our lists so diligently. We are such a busy group. I need to pull together and pack up tomorrow’s AmVet donation, and finish cleaning my bird bath. Then Bindi walks, one gym class and wrapping up my day at the local wine bar with friends. At least that is my plan. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Altocedro Malbec La Consulta Old Vine Reserve 2020 The 2020 vintage is still a bit elusive, though I provided its info below. Luckily all released vintages share the same excellent reviews. It definitely sounds like one I would like to taste. But there are numerous online distributors who ship the 2019 with prices starting at $33.50. Winemaker Notes #51 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 A deep ruby red color. Lucid aromas of sweet figs and prunes, as well as cherry compote. Very generous fruit in the middle with firm, lightly chewy tannin and moderate length. WS93 Wine Spectator This red harmoniously melds layers of floral, spice, minerality and fruit, showing rich plum and floral blackberry notes up front, with spicy currant and wet stone flavors midpalate that fan out around medium-grained tannins. Ends with a lingering note of cordial. JS92 James Suckling Creamy mocha-chocolate notes jump out first, followed by very ripe blackberries and some mulberries. The full-bodied palate garners a bit of dried fruit, too, but not in a jammy way. Rich and concentrated with dense, ripe tannins to seal it all. Good length. Drink or hold.

Brenda your pics are magical! I bought a Whirlpool. It is a similar layout as my old LG: French door fridge with freezer on the bottom.

Eva, thank you for celebrating my new fridge! But it can come off the list now. Though I am still exploring all its nooks & crannies. 😎

Have fun at Legoland. I never expected to enjoy myself there as much as I did. I was awed by the detail that was included in each display.

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R & D! It is another lovely morning here, though unsettled weather is expected to move in tomorrow. Eva, thank you for caring for our Cares & Celebrations lists. I appreciate you stepping in! Just a gym class, chores, Bindi walks for me. Though my plumber comes back this afternoon to see if he can rearrange the plumbing under the sink to give me a bit more room. I have a water purification system that has lots of lines going to different places and it is a mess. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Borne of Fire 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington State I used the 2018 vintage info, because this might be the easiest for us to find. But all prior vintages share the same excellent ratings and reasonable prices. A decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $16.94. Winemaker Notes Borne of Fire epitomizes the terroir of The Burn. This rugged, yet elegant wine leads with herbal expressive aromas laced with pomegranate and stony minerals. Upon tasting the wine, powdery tannins frame flavors of cherry, currant, savory spice, and red pepper. A green coffee inflected finish rounds out the overall experience. Pair with beef sliders, Caribbean pork sandwiches, gnocchi with braised beef brisket or garlic chicken wings. JD91 Jeb Dunnuck Just bottled, the 100% varietal 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon has a juicy, fruit-forward, delicious style as well as notes of ripe black cherries, tobacco, and leafy herbs. With plenty of fruit, ripe tannins, and loads to love, drink it over the coming 5-7 years.

My friend on the turtle patrol shared some pics of the new Leatherback turtle nest. Not often seen around me, so everyone is very excited.

@cunnorl & @marshhawk Charlene & Annie Hope your new year is filled with love, laughter, great health & at least one cruise!

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R & D! Love the official addition of the “Today in History” feature. Eva, thank you for taking care of our Cares & Celebrations! Another lovely morning here after a night of wild T-storms. The local deer herd just wandered by. The fawns are just so adorable. Just gym, Aldi, Bindi walks, a yard project and getting my next AmVet donation ready for their pick up this week. Yesterday’s block party was so much fun. Lots of catching up and enjoying a beautiful afternoon with wonderful neighbors. My favorite vegetable… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone. ********** Giesen Pinot Noir Marlborough Single Vineyard Selection Clayvin 2019 This is another elusive New Zealand wine. But I lucked out in finding a distributor t who not only provided great info, but also ships worldwide. This wine sounds amazing, I prefer full bodied Pinot Noirs. Our New Zealand Dailyite might find it for a lower price, but the distributor who ships to me offers it for $52.99 + shipping. Distributor notes Double Gold Medal – New Zealand International Wine Show 2022 From the famous Clayvin vineyard, a living tribute to Marlborough’s viticultural history, comes this outstanding Pinot Noir. Established in 1993, Clayvin Vineyard was Marlborough’s first significant hillside vineyard. It is North facing, has high density planting and is farmed organically. It is world renown for producing some of New Zealand's very best Pinot Noir. This is one of them. Winery notes (2019 Vintage) "The journey of each Single Vineyard wine starts in a Marlborough vineyard selected for its unique terroir and climate. They are then nurtured with meticulous hands-on viticulture to ensure fruit produces highly concentrated flavour. Our winemaking expertise then allows these wines to speak for themselves, their purity becoming a showcase of the land. Established in 1993, Clayvin Vineyard was Marlborough’s first significant hillside vineyard. North facing, the vineyard planting is high density. This density creates natural competition among the vines, reducing vigour, promoting root structure and intensity of flavour. It also means that the vineyard only produces ‘one bottle of Clayvin Pinot Noir per vine’. This Single Vineyard Clayvin Pinot Noir is earthy, with wild strawberry and red cherry. It’s restrained with good intensity and a structured foundation, finishing with great length. World renowned vineyard ‘Clayvin’ has historically set the standard for premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production from Marlborough." Rated Excellent, 5 Stars & 95/100 NZ Wine Rater, August 2022 (2019 Vintage) "Intense, youthful, attractive, fruit-driven bouquet with a sweet lift of sour cherry, lavender, dark chocolate, toasted vanilla pod, liquorice and charry oak. Full-bodied, bright, ripe, concentrated and juicy with well-structured, complex tannins and a spicy, energized finish." 94/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, December 2022 (2019 Vintage) "An attractive fragrant aroma features floral/red rose/violet with cherry, struck flint, raspberry and mixed spice flavours on the palate. The wine is supported by ripe tannins and gentle acidity. Accessible now but with plenty of cellaring potential." Reviews for previous vintages below… 5 Stars & 97/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, March 2020 (2017 Vintage) "Exhibiting awesome power and grace, it’s fabulously fragrant on the nose with sweet berry, vanilla pod, dark spice, violet and cedar characters. The palate displays outstanding concentration and depth, splendidly enhanced by elegant spicy/savoury undertones. Flatteringly classy. At its best: now to 2030." Rated Outstanding & 96/100 Cameron Douglas MS, January 2020 (2017 Vintage) "A captivating, precise and complex bouquet of Pinot Noir. Immediately varietal with ripe light red berry fruits – raspberry, plum and dark cherry, additional aromas of flowers, baking spices, a mix of silty soils and dry stone earthiness along with and new French Oak layer will seduce Pinot fans quickly. Delicious on the palate – youthful too with an abundance of tannins and acidity – all tempered by the core of fruit and floral seductiveness that is Pinot. Lengthy finish driven by a mix of satin and silk textures alongside the chalky youth of tannin and core of fruit. Well made. A wine for the cellar with best drinking from 2022 through 2027."

Thank you for sharing your transit, Laura! Your weather looks good.

Gosh Terry! Praying that someone at the company helped you out. None of you need this kind of stress.

@Rowsby Sue may your new year be filled with love, laughter, great health & a cruise (or two)!

Thank you Sandi & Rich for bringing us today’s R & D. It looks to be another lovely day in the neighborhood. Thank you Eva @superoma for taking up the reins of the Cares & Celebrations lists. Your first post was stellar. You may not have been happy with how it looked, but I only noticed how wonderful it was of you to step up. Yesterday was a bit crazy. My new fridge arrived in the early part of the time window. But when we turned the water line from my water purifying tank back on, we discovered a leak behind the wall. But luckily my plumber could fit me in yesterday afternoon, so all is now operating smoothly. Yeah! Today I have a couple of yard projects and then this afternoon is our neighborhood block party. The weather should be great 🤞🏻. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! @kazu Jacqui, so happy to read that you & Ivan are trying each other out. I hope it works out for both of you. Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Hanzell Sebella Pinot Noir Sonoma Valley 2019 Note: I tweaked the name of this wine a bit. This Sonoma Pinot Noir sounds great and reasonably priced. And I found several online distributors that ship to me with prices starting at $31.85. Winemaker Notes Gorgeous red fruit aromas of pomegranate, cherry and cranberry coalesce with herbal scents of sage and pipe tobacco, reminiscent of a briar patch. Plush and soft on entry, gaining energy and structure with fine, mouth-coating tannins on the mid-palate. The flavors of pomegranate, cola, orange peel and herbs are long and layered. Lovely to enjoy now, the 2019 Sebella Pinot Noir will gain in polish and complexity with mid-term cellaring. WE94 Wine Enthusiast Having spent nine months in new French oak, this wine offers a mix of bright acidity and crunchy red fruit. It uncovers white pepper, lavender and forest floor accents as it develops, yielding a wine that shows tremendous value for the quality. Editors’ Choice. JS93 James Suckling This shows notes of ripe red fruit, orange peel, dried herbs and flowers. Fresh and attractive fruit character. Juicy and succulent. Light and easy to drink. V90 Vinous Silky, translucent and beautifully lifted, the Sebella Pinot Noir is a gorgeous wine. Crushed flowers, sage, sweet red berry fruit and bright acids lend energy and vibrancy throughout. The Sebella is made from purchased fruit, but the style of the wine is very much in line with the estate. Best of all, this stellar Pinot is a terrific value. Best after 2022.

I hoped you framed this one Carolyn! Precious moment captured forever!

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R & D! A gorgeous morning, but a crazy one for me. I took a look at the Whirlpool fridge I had my eye on, and the sales person sold me on it, when he offered to extend the sale that had just ended on the 19th for me. So I took the offer. It will be delivered somewhere between 9 & 1 today, so I just got back with bags of ice and need to start emptying the old one. My neighbors took all my highly perishable items, but I still have to get out lots. Bindi is confused. Vanessa safe travels! Our lists are in good hands. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Marchesi Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy 2014 This Italian red sounds wonderful, but it is so far out of my price range, I could probably afford to just sniff the cork. It has lots of fans. And a decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $248.43. Winemaker Notes Intense ruby red in color, this wine offers aromas rich in their concentration of red and black fruit (cherries and black cherries, raspberries, cassis, blueberries, and wild berry fruit) -- which, together with notes of vanilla, black pepper, and liquorice, compose a bouquet which is decisively ample and complex. The palate is exceptionally elegant and balanced, fresh in its flavors and with a lot of personality, solid and silky in its texture and tannins. The finish, characterized by notes of fruit and spices, is of great finesse and persistence. RP95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2014 Solaia will be released during the second half of 2017. This is a fine-tuned expression that shows a focused sense of detail and careful attention. The quota of Cabernet Franc has been upped by a hair and this makes a big difference, especially in terms of the wine's bouquet. Otherwise, this celebrated Tuscan blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese. It opens to dark fruit aromas with crushed mineral, pipe tobacco, pressed flower and toasted spice. Its appearance is midnight black and profound. The wine delivers a sense of sheer excitement and nervousness that will subside with another few years of bottle age. Nonetheless, I think a certain amount of that bright edginess or rigidness will always be part of this cool vintage Solaia. In the mouth, the wine is firm, compact and dense. The tannins are chiseled to the point of sublime integration. Marchesi Antinori made 40% less Solaia in this vintage in order to maintain the quality you taste here. JS95 James Suckling A dense and fruity red with chocolate, dark berry and cedar character. Full and chewy with a flavorful finish. This is extremely well done for the vintage. Needs two or three years to soften. WE94 Wine Enthusiast Fragrant and refined, this iconic wine offers alluring aromas of purple flower, exotic spice, wild berry and cassis. Smooth and elegant, the palate delivers blackberry, Marasca cherry, licorice, clove and a hint of chopped mint. It’s balanced by bright acidity and taut, polished tannins. Drink 2019–2029. Cellar Selection W&S94 Wine & Spirits Solaia delivers impressive concentration and balance in this challenging, rain-soaked vintage. Severe pruning and selection yielded a wine with flavors of black currant and tobacco laced with subtle spice and hints of cedar, a flavor profile dubbed “Bordeaux with an Italian accent” by one member of our tasting panel. Vibrant acidity and a graphite minerality lend a cool, nervy edge that will keep the wine fresh for many years to come. WS93 Wine Spectator This dark, deep expression of black cherry, blackberry, cedar and tobacco aromas and flavors is firm. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2020 through 2033.

My appliance guru said LG is the worst, followed closely by Samsung. Sadly these two have some great features. I have my eye on a Whirlpool.

Maybe your trivia will prompt the missing folk to post! I love your super start!

@superoma Edi I know we have someone from Australia who posts occasionally. Sadly I do know know his CC name. Thank you for taking the helm, I know you will take great care of our happenings. Ann

Vanessa, safe travels! Have a wonderful cruise!

So Annie, when is your actual birthday?

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R & D. It is 10 degrees warmer this morning. And it looks like another beautiful day. Vanessa, glad to read that your recent issues won’t prevent your cruise! Thank you for keeping our lists! Just Zumba, Bindi walks and chores for me today. I decided to shop for a new fridge. My appliance repair guru said he was surprised my 15 year old LG was still working. I might be living on borrowed time & I don’t want to lose food. I know my new one will not be a LG. My guru has actually stopped taking LG cooling issue calls, because people had units that were just a few years old and the compressor died. Even if under warranty, the replacement compressor is the same component & the problem could recur. And if not under warranty the job costs $1,000. I know I want the same style, so hoping I find a good one. I am just a wee bit more complex, I need 🍷, too. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Fillaboa Albarino 2021, Rias Baixas, Spain I used the 2021 vintage info, because its consumer and critic reviews are the best. It might also be the easy to find. I would love to taste this $14.99 Winemaker Notes Bodegas Fillaboa Albarino is a clean and bright straw-yellow. High intensity of ripe fruits, pineapple, apple, mango and citrus fruits. Very straightforward and aromatic with pleasant fermentation notes. The palate is smooth with an unctuous, structured flavor. Well-integrated acidity. This wine is balanced, fresh, and persistent. JS92 James Suckling Mineral and stony with dried lemons, pears, oyster shells and hints of yellow flowers. This is taut and bright on the palate, with a bright streak of acidity and a nicely chalky and austere finish. Drink now. WW91 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com The 2021 Fillaboa Albarino offers excellent ripeness and lasts friendly on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers aromas and flavors of chalkiness, ripe apples, and savory spices. Enjoy it with a fish stew. (Tasted: December 6, 2022, San Francisco, CA)

I am lucky. It was a simple matter of dust in the back vents. Once cleared, the compressor started working correctly and the ice maker could cycle properly. Gave me a good opportunity to clean really well behind the fridge. Thanks for the recipe offer. But I won’t be needing it.

I made to rave reviews! Enjoy, Carolyn.

Thank you Sandi & Rich, for bringing us today’s R & D! Another lovely, slightly nippy morning, but the sun is already warming it up. The birds are all happily singing and a couple of fawns are frolicking outside my patio area. 😎 Vanessa, thank you for taking such good care of our Cares & Celebrations! As Sandi said - We appreciate it! My fridge’s ice maker is sick. Within the past two weeks it went on strike for two entire days. So before it dies completely, my appliance repair guru is going to look at it. The fridge is an LG, so I am hoping it can be replaced, since it is more than 7 years old. So this should make for an exciting afternoon. Bindi walks, my 🤞🏻 final plant delivery and chores will fill my day. If the stars & planets align, I will make my HIIT class. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* 2019 Craggy Range Pinot Noir, Martinborough, New Zealand I used the 2019 vintage info, since that was the most recent vintage with reviews. But since all released vintages share the same superb - excellent reviews and similar prices - grab whatever vintage you find. I found several online distributors with prices starting at $27.98. Winemaker Notes Notes of strawberry, blueberry and white truffle. Undeniable depth of flavor that is exciting and vibrant. Pairs well with pan seared and roasted duck leg, fresh pasta and sautéed mushroom risotto. JS97 James Suckling This has hit an impressive trajectory with very well-curated, fresh blueberry, red-cherry and black-cherry aromas, swathed in sweet baking spices and fresh-tilled earth. The palate has sleekly defined tannins, carrying intense, ripe blueberry and red-cherry flavors, amid deeply buried spice. Impressive, this is the finest Aroha to date. Drink or hold. WE95 Wine Enthusiast This is not a timid wine. It's rich and round, wearing its brambly, medicinal, earthy, spicy and floral colors loud and proud. The silky mouthfeel is tugged into place by sappy tannins. There's intensity, balance and structure, and a real sense of place. Drink now.

I could view both on my iPad using Safari, Ann!

Thank you Sandi & Rich for bringing us today’s R & D! A lovely, but cool morning here. Just 51 when Bindi and I headed out. But it promises to be a gorgeous day. Vanessa, thank you for capturing and sharing our daily happenings. Happy to read your knee issue seems a bit better & praying your eye problem is easy to correct before your cruise. Lots of chores, Bindi walks, a gym class and tracking down two missing plants from my delivery. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Happy Anniversary Holland America! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Newton 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Unfiltered, Napa Valley, California I used the 2018 vintage info since not only is it the most recently released vintage, but it should also be the easiest to find. But all released vintages share the same excellent reviews. Quite a few online distributors with prices starting at $44.99. Winemaker Notes Ruby in color, it presents a deep purple hue. Our Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 boasts aromas of red wild cherry with tobacco notes, followed by dark fruit and spices. The palate is structured yet refined. The density and volume on the midpalate complement the structure, making for a beautifully complex wine. Very long finish. JS93 James Suckling Aromas of fresh plums, bark, pine needles, milk chocolate and cloves. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, sleek tannins. Smooth and creamy with layers of ripe fruit and chocolate. Delicious. Try after 2022. WS92 Wine Spectator Packed with dark currant paste, warmed fig and blackberry preserve flavors, this brims with rich fruit. Grounded, with strong tug of loam and a singed cedar note that melds nicely through the finish. Has heft, but the fruit is pure. Best from 2022 through 2030. WE92 Wine Enthusiast Delivering outstanding value, this nuanced, balanced and elegant wine is a showcase of soft, supple tannin and lovely red and black cherry. Leathery texture adds volume and breadth, with a touch of grip, building to a finish of light spice and tobacco. Editors' Choice